Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Boiler Repair’

3 Signs That You Need Boiler Repairs

Monday, November 2nd, 2015

We are admittedly very early in the heating season, but you must remember that there is no time during which you can guarantee with absolute certainty that your boiler will not encounter operational problems. Because it is always best to have any problems with one’s boiler resolved sooner than later, it only makes sense to learn to identify the warning signs of boiler problems. We’ve put together a few examples of some common indicators below. If you have any concerns regarding your boiler, or suspect the need for professional boiler repairs in West Jordan, UT, just give us a call. Design Comfort is available to help. 

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How Hard Water Leads to Boiler Repair

Friday, February 27th, 2015

You may be familiar with the term “hard water.” Sometimes, beauty companies advertise their products as being effective at reversing the effects of hard water on the hair, skin, and nails. In some major cities, residents swear that the crust of their pizza tastes better due to the hardness or softness of the water. Hard water is actually a condition that affects the plumbing system of the majority of homes. But the degree to which hard water is present varies from place to place.

What is Hard Water?

Having hard water means that the water in your house contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. These rarely come along with any health effects, but it can do major damage to different parts of your plumbing. Scale is left behind, and ends up blocking the pipes, damaging dishwashers and washing machines, and costing hundreds or thousands in replacement costs in many cases.

One of the areas where hard water could do the most damage is in your boiler. It’s no secret that boilers are not really easy to replace nor are they cheap. Boiler repair is possible in some instances of scale buildup, but at a certain point, a boiler affected by mineral deposits is simply too far gone.

Early Signs of Hard Water

The first sign of hard water in your boiler is if you hear a clanking or rattling sound. The minerals knock around in the tank, but this noise isn’t the worst of your problems. Pressure in the tank becomes slowly increased as minerals continue to gather and take up volume. Long ago, this could create dangerous conditions. Thankfully, there are safety components in the tank that should shut down the boiler completely if the pressure becomes too high. However, this means you’ll be without any heat at all.

Water Treatment Installation

Most boilers are installed in such a way that hard water is prevented from entering the tank. Boiler feedwater may be treated and demineralized with chemicals, or there may be a purge valve in place to get rid of scale. Ask your technician if your boiler is at risk of scale buildup. You may choose to install a whole-home water softener as well so that hard water does not affect the other components of your plumbing system.

Call Design Comfort as soon as you notice noises in your boiler. We offer boiler repair in North Salt Lake as well as water treatment system installation if you’d like to take preventive action against scale.

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What Are the Main Components of a Boiler?

Friday, October 24th, 2014

Boilers have been around for over a century, and while today’s boilers are very energy efficient, many of the main components that make up the system are still the same. Having a basic understanding of the components of your system can go a long way toward helping with the maintenance and repair of your heating system. To help you better understand your boiler and its components, our Design Comfort technicians have put together a list for your reference.

Main Boiler Components

  • Burner – the burner is the area where the air mixes with your fuel source and combusts.
  • Combustion chamber/firebox – this is the chamber where the combustion from the burner heats the heat exchanger; this chamber can reach temperatures of several hundred degrees.
  • Heat exchanger – the heat exchanger allows the heat from the combustion chamber to heat the water in the boiler’s tank.
  • Aquastats – these components sense the temperature of the water in your boiler and tell the burner when to start and stop.
  • Expansion tank – the expansion tank is a small tank off the main boiler that helps protect your system from excessive pressure.
  • Backflow valve – a backflow valve is a safety device that allows water to flow in a single direction only.
  • Circulator pump – a circulator pump is used with boilers that use hot water to heat; the circulator pump pushes the hot water through your system, allowing it to circulate to the various outlets.
  • Supply lines – supply lines are the pipes that deliver the heated water or steam to the distribution points.
  • Return lines – when the water cools, or the steam cools and changes states back to water, the return lines bring this water back to the boiler for re-heating.

Common Boiler Outlets

There are 3 main outlets for a hydronic heating system:

  • Radiators
  • Baseboard heating
  • Hydronic radiant floor heating

As you can see, there are multiple key components to a boiler, so if you are in need of repair, it’s always best to call for a trained professional. The Salt Lake City heating experts at Design Comfort are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so if you are experiencing problems with your boiler, call us today!

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3 Common Boiler Repairs

Friday, October 24th, 2014

Boilers have been around a long time, and they are still a very popular heating option for many homeowners. As with any heating system, regular operation can take a toll, and at some point your heating system will need repair. There are some problems that occur more often than others when it comes to boilers, but for any heating repair, make sure to call the people you can trust: Design Comfort.

3 Common Reasons for Boiler Repair

A boiler can need repair for many reasons, but here are some problems that can occur more than others:

  • Leaks – boilers use water to provide heating to your home. There is water in the holding tank, water in the piping and water in the distribution outlets; at some point, it is very likely that a leak will develop. Common leak locations are circulating pumps, which help move the water through the pipes; valves, which are in a number of places around the system, including radiators; and on the intake pipe, where the water from your water line or well brings water into the boiler’s holding tank.
  • Problems with the pipes – one of the problems that can develop with the pipes of a boiler system is scaling. Scaling occurs when the minerals in the water start to build on the inside of the pipes (this tends to be a bigger problem with areas that have hard water). An acid flush of the system can usually remove the build-up. A second problem can be air lock, which occurs when a pocket of air gets trapped in the system. Air pockets block the circulating warm water, which interrupts the heating.
  • Circulating pump issues – as mentioned above, circulating pumps are necessary to help push the water through the piping. Each pump has a valve and an electrical component, and both components can develop issues that affect the pump’s operation. Circulating pumps can also develop leaks, which can lower the pressure needed in the system.

It can be tempting to ignore problems with your heating system, but problems don’t get better on their own. If you are experiencing heating problems, call Design Comfort today and schedule boiler repairs in Salt Lake City with one of our HVAC experts.

 

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